How Toowoomba MPs will vote on Queensland abortion changes

How Toowoomba MPs will vote on Queensland abortion changes

Tobi graduated from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2015. From there he began his career at the Central and North Burnett Times in Mundubbera, before moving to the South Burnett Times in Kingaroy in 2017. He joined The Chronicle’s news team in January 2018.

THE MPs for Toowoomba North and Toowoomba South yesterday revealed they will both vote against the abortion law changes when a bill comes before parliament next week.

The State Government legislation, if passed, decriminalise abortion and allow terminations up to 22 weeks. Women would need approval of two doctors if they wanted a termination after 22 weeks.

David Janetzki said it was a "personal and complex" issue.

"Important issues including mandatory counselling, cooling-off periods and domestic violence coercion have not been addressed," he said.

"Beyond the lack of support and protection for women and the unborn, medical professionals will be denied their right to conscientious objection and some provisions of the bill may be unconstitutional."

Trevor Watts said it was with his conscience he would oppose the bill.

"I strongly support the sanctity of human life and believe we should make every effort to protect the lives of our most vulnerable," Mr Watts said.

"Labor's bill is more extreme than legislation in most European nations including Germany, France and Sweden."

Both MPs said they would expand on their reasoning in parliament.

Anti abortion protestors outside Toowoomba city hall.Bev Lacey

David Janetzki statement in full:

"I will be opposing Labor's Bill.

These are deeply personal and complex issues.

I do not believe that the Bill serves the interests of women or the unborn. Important issues including mandatory counselling, cooling off periods and domestic violence coercion have not been addressed in this process.

After meeting the extraordinary Jaya Taki, who was coerced by an NRL player into an abortion, I realise how important these issues are to be addressed. As Jaya says, "we can do better than this".

Beyond the lack of support and protection for women and the unborn, medical professionals will be denied their right to conscientious objection and some provisions of the Bill may in fact be unconstitutional.

The Toowoomba community has serious concerns in relation to the 22 week abortion on demand gestation threshold and the potential to obtain an abortion beyond 22 weeks for undefined "social" reasons. Feedback into my office from the Toowoomba South electorate has been running at 100-1 against the Bill.

I also note that the Queensland LNP platform affirms that no changes ought to be made to Queensland's existing lawful termination framework - a position that I agree with.

I will expand on these issues further when I speak on the Bill in Parliament next week."

Trevor Watts statement in full:

"Yesterday, the LNP Party Room voted unanimously in favour of a conscience vote.

It is with my conscience, that I will oppose Labor's Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018.

I strongly support the sanctity of human life and believe we should make every effort to protect the lives of our most vulnerable.

Labor's Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 is more extreme than legislation in most European nations including Germany, France and Sweden.

It will allow the termination of pregnancy for undefined social reasons, including gender selection, up to 22 weeks.

Beyond 22 weeks, this legislation will permit the termination of pregnancy upon agreement of two doctors, until the moment of birth.

The bill also provides no safeguards for doctors and medical support staff to conscientiously object to such a procedure.

While I acknowledge this is an extremely complex and emotive issue for all Queenslanders, I do not believe this piece of extreme Labor legislation addresses the social issues associated with an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy.

The decision to abort an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy is often heavily influenced by many external factors including financial, physiological and psychological circumstances.

This extreme Labor legislation fails to acknowledge these external factors, as well as the issue of counselling, cooling off periods and other important safeguards.

Any reforms to the existing legislation in Queensland, must include strengthened safeguards to protect women and the lives of unborn children.

I will speak in more detail on this issue during the parliamentary debate next week."